Parliamentary delegations from 11 BRICS member countries and 10 partner nations have arrived in New Delhi for the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, a two-day meeting hosted by the Parliament of India at the Parliament House complex. The forum is being held under the theme “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development”. Its inaugural session is scheduled for 10 am on Monday, October 26, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who chairs the forum, set to deliver the opening address. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to meet the visiting Speakers and heads of delegations later in the day.
The meeting will bring together parliamentarians to discuss democratic governance, people-focused development and the role of legislative institutions in addressing global challenges. The programme includes four high-level sessions focusing on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Discussions are expected to cover institutional capacity building, parliamentary oversight of artificial intelligence (AI), emerging digital technologies and the Sustainable Development Goals. A separate meeting of parliamentary committee chairs responsible for international affairs will focus on parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building and the exchange of legislative practices.
The forum will also provide an opportunity for bilateral and multilateral discussions among participating countries. Meetings of Parliamentary Friendship Groups formed with 64 countries are expected to support further engagement between legislatures. The conference will conclude on October 27 with the adoption of a joint statement. Birla will deliver the valedictory address before the chairmanship of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum is formally handed over to China.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin discussed counterterrorism, economic ties and closer parliamentary engagement during a meeting in New Delhi on October 25, ahead of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. The talks also covered India-Russia cooperation at international forums, reform of global institutions and opportunities to expand bilateral ties across sectors. According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, both sides stressed the need to strengthen coordination at global forums and work together to combat terrorism.
Welcoming Volodin and the Russian delegation on behalf of the Indian Parliament and the country’s 1.4 billion people, Birla spoke about the longstanding ties between India and Russia, which he said were based on mutual trust, respect and shared aspirations. He acknowledged Russia’s continued support for India’s efforts to counter terrorism and called for a firm and united international response.
India and Russia will complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027. Birla said their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership had grown stronger under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Birla called for sustained engagement between the Lok Sabha and the Russian State Duma, including regular meetings of the India-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Commission and exchanges of parliamentary delegations. He also stressed the importance of encouraging young and women parliamentarians to participate in these exchanges.
The discussions also touched on India’s BRICS presidency in 2026. Birla called on Russia to play an active role in strengthening cooperation among the parliaments of BRICS countries, with a focus on people-centred development.
He further called for coordinated efforts to address climate change, terrorism and other international challenges. Birla said global institutions needed to respond more effectively to changing circumstances and reiterated India’s position on reforming the United Nations Security Council. He thanked Russia for its continued support for India’s permanent membership of the council.
The two delegations also discussed ways to expand cooperation in nuclear energy, industry and other sectors. Birla highlighted cultural exchanges and direct contact between people as important parts of the bilateral relationship, noting that the goodwill shared by Indians and Russians could help deepen ties further. Volodin called for closer economic cooperation, particularly in trade, industry and agriculture. He stressed the need to encourage joint business ventures and remove obstacles affecting trade and investment between the two countries.
The Russian State Duma chairman also called for regular exchanges between the two legislatures and greater engagement through multilateral platforms, including BRICS. He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to cooperation in cultural and humanitarian fields and to strengthening people-to-people ties, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said. Volodin expressed confidence that continued parliamentary dialogue and cooperation across sectors would help advance relations between India and Russia. On October 25, Birla also met parliamentary delegations from Cuba, Egypt and Belarus. The meetings involved discussions on issues of mutual interest, according to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
This article was prepared with AI assistance and is based on information available in the public domain.
